How to turn on 5G Wi-Fi on Xiaomi router: full instructions with pictures and tips

Did you buy a Xiaomi router with dual-band Wi-Fi support, but can’t find where the 5GHz network is turned on? Or do your devices only “see” a standard 2.4GHz network, even though the router specs indicate the presence of 5G Wi-Fi? This problem is familiar to many users – especially those who are first to encounter the settings of Xiaomi network equipment.

In this article, we will explain how to enable 5G Wi-Fi on Xiaomi routers (including Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition, AX3600, AX6000 and others), why the network may not appear on devices, and what to do if the speed in the 5 GHz band is lower than expected, and you will learn how to separate the 2.4 and 5 GHz networks for more stable operation and avoid automatic switching between them.

Spoiler: Most of the time, the problem isn't hardware limitations, it's router or firmware settings that are wrong, and you can fix it in 5 minutes without going to support.

Which Xiaomi routers support 5G Wi-Fi?

Before you try to turn on a 5GHz network, make sure your router model supports it. Not all Xiaomi routers are equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi module - especially for low-end devices.

Here is a list of popular models with 5G Wi-Fi support:

• 📶 Xiaomi Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition (MT7621AT) – up to 867 Mbps at 5 GHz
• 🚀 Xiaomi Mi Router AX3600 (Wi-Fi 6, up to 2402 Mbps at 5 GHz)
• ⚡ Xiaomi Mi Router AX6000 (Wi-Fi 6, up to 4804 Mbps at 5 GHz)
• 🌐 Xiaomi Mi Router 4C – only 2.4 GHz (no support for 5G!
• 🔄 Xiaomi Mi Router 4Q — dual-band, but with a limited speed of 5 GHz

If your model is not on the list, check the specifications on the official Xiaomi website or on the device box. Note: some routers (for example, Mi Router 4C) support only 2.4 GHz - and it is impossible to turn on 5G Wi-Fi on them.

⚠️ Warning: Xiaomi routers with MiWiFi R3G firmware or earlier versions may not support 5G Wi-Fi even if you have a hardware module, in which case a firmware update is required.

Why 5G Wi-Fi is not available on devices

You turned on 5 GHz in your settings, but your smartphone or laptop doesn't see it?

1. The device does not support 5G Wi-Fi. Older smartphones (until 2016 release), some laptops and smart devices (such as cameras or light bulbs) only work in the 2.4 GHz band.
2. Network hidden (SSID is not broadcast) The router's settings may turn off the 5GHz network name broadcast.
3. Incompatible channel or channel width: If a router selects a channel above 146 (e.g. 161), some devices will not see it.
4. Problems with Wi-Fi adapter drivers, especially for Windows PCs.

To check if your device supports 5G Wi-Fi, check its specifications or try connecting to another 5GHz network (such as in a cafe or at friends’).

Method 1: Enable 5G Wi-Fi through MiWiFi app

The easiest way to set up a 5GHz network is to use the official MiWiFi app (available for Android and iOS).

1. Download and install the MiWiFi app from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Connect to the router network (even if it is 2.4 GHz).
3. Open the app and sign in to your Xiaomi account (or create a new one).
4. On the main screen, select your router.
5. Go to the Wi-Fi settings section → Additional settings.
6. Activate the 5G Wi-Fi switch (or dual-band mode).
7. Set up a network name (SSID) and password for 5 GHz (you can leave the same as for 2.4 GHz, or ask others).
8. Save the changes and restart the router.

After the reboot, the 5GHz network should appear in the list of available connections. If not, check if it is hidden (Hide the network option should be disabled).

Method 2: Configure via web interface (192.168.31.1)

If the MiWiFi application doesn’t work or you prefer the classic method, you can turn on 5G Wi-Fi via the router’s web interface.

1. Connect your computer or smartphone to the router network (via Wi-Fi or cable).
2. Open your browser and type in the address bar 192.168.31.1 (or miwifi.com).
3. Enter the login and password (by default – admin and password from the sticker on the router).
4. Go to Wi-Fi → 5G Wi-Fi settings (or dual-band mode).
5. Turn on the switch to Enable Wi-Fi 5G.
6. Set the network name (SSID) and password. We recommend using different names for 2.4 and 5 GHz (e.g., Xiaomi_2G and Xiaomi_5G) to avoid confusion.
7. In Channel, select Auto or manually select a channel from 36-140 (channels 149-165 may not be supported by some devices).
8. Click Save and wait for the router to restart.

The critical point: if you choose 80 MHz channel width, the speed will be higher, but some devices may not see the network.

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If the router freezes and does not respond after saving the settings, wait 2-3 minutes. If the problem does not disappear, reset it with the Reset button (hold 10 seconds) and repeat the setting.

How to split 2.4 and 5 GHz networks on Xiaomi?

By default, many Xiaomi routers use the combined SSID for both bands, which means that the network is called the same (e.g., Xiaomi_ABCD), and devices automatically connect to 2.4 or 5 GHz depending on the signal.

• 📱 Devices can stick in the slow 2.4 GHz band even if 5 GHz is available.
• 🔄 Frequent reconnections between bands lead to connection breaks.
• 🎮 For online gaming or 4K- streaming, it is better to force 5GHz.

To divide networks, follow the following steps:

1. Go to the router's web interface (192.168.31.1).
2. Go to Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi settings.
3. Uncheck the option to combine 2.4G and 5G into a single network (or Smart Connect).
4. Set different names for 2.4 and 5 GHz (e.g. Xiaomi_2G and Xiaomi_5G).
5. Save the settings and restart the router.

You can now manually choose which band to connect to, especially for devices that cling stubbornly to 2.4GHz (like some Xiaomi or Samsung TVs).

Solving 5G Wi-Fi problems on Xiaomi

If the 5GHz network is still not working or is unstable after setting up, try the following solutions:

1.The 5GHz network appears and disappears.

This may be related to:

• 🔋 Overheating the router, make sure it's hot. If so, get better ventilation.
• ⚡ Unstable power supply - try another power supply.
• 📡 Interference from other networks – use the Wi-Fi Analyzer (Android) app to select the least loaded channel.

2.Slow speed at 5GHz

If the speed is lower than expected:

• 🔄 Switch to a channel with a lower load (e.g., 36 to 48).
• 📶 Reduce the channel width from 80 MHz to 40 MHz (this will reduce speed but increase stability).
• 🔌 Check if your service provider’s speed limit is not limited.

3.The devices are not connected to 5GHz

Possible causes:

• 🔐 Wrong password – check the character register.
• 🔄 Outdated Wi-Fi adapter drivers (relevant to PCs)
• 📵 The router has turned on the MAC-address filter — turn it off in the settings.

⚠️ Warning: On Xiaomi routers running Padavan or OpenWRT, the 5G Wi-Fi settings may be in another section (e.g., Wireless → Radio0/1). If you use custom firmware, look for instructions for it.

Additional settings for maximum performance

To get maximum speed and stability in the 5 GHz network, we recommend setting the following parameters:

• 🔒 Security type: Use WPA2-PSK or WPA3-PSK (not WEP, it is not safe!).
• 🔄 Wi-Fi Mode: For routers with Wi-Fi 6 (AX3600, AX6000), select 802.11ax.
• 📡 Transmission power: Set High (but this can increase power consumption).
• 🔄 Turn on MU-MIMO (if available in the settings) — this improves multi-device experience.
• 🔄 Disable IPv6 if not in use - this can speed up the connection.

It's also useful to update the router's firmware to the latest version.

1. Go to Settings. → Firmware update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, install it (don’t turn off power during the upgrade!).

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For 5G Wi-Fi to work on Xiaomi, it is critical to choose the right channel. Use 36-48 channels for minimal interference from neighboring networks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about 5G Wi-Fi on Xiaomi